1877- A Plant for the Poor - Polygonum cuspidatum

This interesting view of Japanese Knotweed and of the state of poor city people was an English article published in the The Florist and Pomologist.  


1877 - POLYGONUM CUSPIDATUM AS A TOWN PLANT

IN the preface to many a small treatise, the author states that "a great want has long been felt" for the article which he, in his benevolence, has at length provided; and following this precedent, I cannot do better than introduce Polygonum cuspidatum, alias P. Sieboldii, as a plant to fill a gap of no ordinary dimensions.  

"Fat Hen", I know it as Pigweed.
 Image source

The plant belongs to a family of troublesome weeds, of which the Fat Hen (used as a spinach) is a notable member; and from a certain family likeness, this plant, like the Fat Hen, may perhaps some day do duty as a vegetable at the board of the poor man.


Its chief merits at present, however, consist in its being, like Jonah's Gourd, a plant of rapid growth, and in its taking kindly to town life. 


It grows at least 10 ft. high, and the rapidity with which it runs up may be seen, when I state that one recently planted against a cottage in a narrow street in Manchester, attained from 6 ft. to 7 ft. in height; and being a bold herbaceous plant, with a branching stem spotted with purple, and well furnished with leaves all the way up, it has no mean or common aspect.

 When rising in spring, which it does in May, the succulent shoots are crisp and tender, and rather larger than fair-sized Asparagus. The leaf is heart-shaped, with a narrowed point and truncate base, and handsome. It is thoroughly hardy, and one of its peculiarities is that its underground stems spread widely in search of fresh pasture. 

I saw it putting in an appearance in a garden adjoining the one in which it was planted, having travelled by the wall and under a flag-stone 3 ft. wide, thereby showing its aptitude for town-life; and whilst the London Nettle [Coleus] requires to be kept indoors in the dingy windows of the City, this Polygonum will do the work of the Nettle without any protection.

In a box or barrel containing half a cubic foot of earth, placed against a wall, or planted out in the paved yard, it will live and do well; and as it dies down every year, it escapes half the dirt that would have fallen upon its foliage had it been an evergreen shrub. It is, moreover, strong enough to stand alone, and does not need the town-ladder nor even a stake to keep it upright.

The Lupinus polyphyllus is one of our earliest spring plants, and has been extensively cultivated for agricultural purposes. Who knows but that this fastgrowing, early herb may some day rival the Lupine as early food for ewes and lambs. As a weed, it has much of the character of colt's-foot and couch-grass, and therefore had better be cautiously let into possession, lest it might be difficult to get it out root and branch, for it pushes its underground stems in all directions.

Whilst the rich can carry their love of grass and flowers from the country into town-life, and be able to maintain parks and squares where their children can walk under shady trees, and disport themselves on the green sward, the poor people are not deficient in taste for the same luxuries, and would gladly hail a hardy perennial herbaceous plant that would take up its abode with them, and thrive among bricks and mortar, and every year get abler for its work.
The Polygonum cuspidatum will do all this, and thereby supply a want that has long been felt.—A. FORSYTH, Salford.

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